Story – Puarankia and King of Benaras – The Greatness of Srimad Bhagavata Purana

Once there lived a Pauranika – a person who gives religious
discourse. He was considered an expert with regard to discourse on the Bhagavata
Purana. This also led to him having an inflated ego. Benaras or Kashi was then considered to be the highest seat of learning.

Pauranika once approached the King of Benaras. and told him that while he
had given discourses in several courts, he had one desire left, that of giving
a discourse in the Benaras King’s court.

The king was very pleased, but got down from this throne
and, with folded hands, told him how it would be a great honour for him to
listen to him but could the Pauranika please read the Bhagavad Purana once more
before starting his discourse?

The Pauranika was angry but as his anger would be of little
avail in the presence of the king, he had no option but to go back and read the
epic once again.

As he did so, he found deeper meanings in the various
passages.

His anger evaporated as he realized that the king had good
reason to make the suggestion he did.

After completing his reading he once again approached the
king with the same request, only to be told by the king to read the epic once
more before starting his discourse.

Dejected, he came back and plunged into reading the Bhagavata Purana once again.

As he delved deep into it, he found that he was getting
gradually transformed. His sense of ego left him and the desire to display his
prowess before the king also disappeared. He read and re-read the book many
times.

Realising that the Pauranika was not going to return, the
king rushed to his home, prostrated himself, and requested the Pauranika to
begin the discourse as he had at last found a worthy teacher.

Source – Preface of the book titled “New Age Management
Philosophy from Ancient Indian Wisdom” By V. Srinivasan